The Woman Clothed In Bark

Deep in the forest dark.
There lived A Woman clothed in bark.
High in the treetops, was her home.
Of leaves and twigs and broken bone.

Lost from her race since she was three.
Raised among the chimpanzee.
The only name she could remember.
Was her sister's nickname, Kimmba.
Kimmba, Kimmba, she would yell.
Whenever she was scared or fell.

Shrugged by the leaders, at just thirteen.
Bitten and scratched.
They'd become real mean.
It didn't matter how hard she tried.
For it was never right in the leaders eyes.

For five long years shed lived alone.
Fighting for food to call her-own.
Dreaming of a place once known.
Wondering if maybe it was her home.

Time to climb down out of the trees.
To find her dream she had to leave.

Out of the forest, dark.
Strode the Woman clothed in bark.
A new beginning she would start.
For the chimpanzee had made her smart.

Around the mountain she did go.
Through wind and rain and sleet and snow.
Then in the distance she did spy.
Smoke from a chimney rising high.

A flash of memory filled her mind.
Of a cold winters night, of a fire warm and bright.
Of her mothers face, and a dress of lace.
Of a kiss goodnight, and a hug so tight.

She'd watched and waited all day long.
She'd heard some children sing a song.
With fascination she crept closer.
But with hesitation she fell over.

Kimmba, Kimmba, she did shout.
And then her sister had come out
This was the home.
That she'd once known.
Now she would never, ever be alone.-written by Robyn Brown